Folding-machine.



/ Patented Feb. 26, |901.

- R. C. SEYMUUR.

FOLDING MACHINE.

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{Application Sled Mar. 1 3. 1900.)

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ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, l90l.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 26, |901.

ATTURN EY No. 668,719. Patented Feb. 26, 190|.A

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(Application filed Mr. 13, 1900.1 (No Model.) I6 SheeSb-rhset 4.

WITNESSES: RVENTOR No. 668,7l9. Patented Feb. 2s, Ism.

n. c. se'vmon.

FOLDING MACHINES (Application led Mar. 13, 1900.)

' l (No Modal.) Slelsheets Sheet 5.

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TH: miams mens co., PHorauTnu., wAsmNamN. n. c,

Ne. 668,7l9. Patented Feb. 26, 190|.

, R. c. SEYMOUR.

FOLDING MACHINE.

l (Appl canon led Mar. 13, 1900.) (No Model. I6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

L lllllllllllumuu I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, |90I.

No. seams.

R. C. SEYMOUR.

FOLDING MACHINE.

("0 Modell.) l' a n led Mar. 18, 1900.) I6 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb.2e, |9ol. R. c. se un. FOLDING INE. (No "dem (Application med um. 13.190m i?, ls shefs--sheet s.

l fums M ATTORNEY N0. 658,7l9. Palnted Feb. 26,1901. H'. C. SEYMOUR.FOLDING MACHINE.

I (No Model v (Application med um. 1s, 1900.)

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. No. 668,7!9. v Patanfed Feb. 26, I90I.

R. C. SEYMOUR.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application tiled-Illu. 18, 1900.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet Il).

(No Model.)

V |NVENTOR WITN'ESSES:

ATTORNEY Paented Feb. 26, Ism.

No. 668,7l9.

n. c. ssvmou. FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application led Har. 13, 1900.)

'I6 Sheets-Sheet Il.

(un Model.)

l WITNESSES:

v INYENTOR '329km 34M ATTORNEY Patenfw Feb. 2,6, lmol- No. 668,7l9.

n c sl-:Ymoun FOLDING MACHINE. {Alnplicaioxx led Mar. 13, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

INVENTOR @W JWM ,7V-M M ATTORNEY WITN ESSES @WW WM Patented Feb. 26,I90l.

No. 663,719.v

n. c. stvmou.

' FULDING MACHINE.

:Appumioh and u". 1a. 1900.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet I3.

' (N0 Model.)

` lNvl-:NToR Y WITNESSES: Y

ATTORN EY No. 668,719. Patented Feb.' 2s, Ism.

n. c. szvmoun.

FOLDING MACHINE.

' (Application med mr. 1s, wow (No Model.)

ls sheets-sheet |4.'

wlTNEssl-:s: mvENToR @fi/M@ @ff Mw @n/. I BYQW 9M ATTORNEY ND. 668,7I9.I Patented Feb. 26, |90I.'

R. C. SEYMOUR. FOLDING MACHINE.

l (Application filed Mar. 13, 1900.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet l5.

n j WITNESSES: INNTOR c., BY

MM l @if Patented Feb. 26, |901.

R C SEYMOUR FOLDING MACHINE.

' (Application led Mar. 13, 1900.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet I6.

' WITNESSES: WW QM@ ATTOR N EY iiJNrTnD STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH C. SEYMOUR, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE C. B.OOTTRELL da SONS COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY; STON; INGTON,OONNEOTICUT,-ANDNEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPEGIFIUATON formingpal't 0f Letters Patent NO. 668,719, dated February26, 190i. Application i'iled March 13, 1900. Serial No. 8,447. (Noniodel.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH C. SEYMOUR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of South Orange, in the county of Essen and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding-machines,

Vand embodies, amongother features, certain devices made thesubjectmatter of Letters Patent No. 629,928, granted to me August l,1899, as well as certain improvements upon said devices. y y

The following are some of the principal objects which I have had in Viewin devising the present folding-machine First,to employ, essentially,thefolding-blade and folding-jaws set forth in my aforesaid Letters Patentand to improve their construction and arrangement and mode of operation,so to adapt them better to combine with other devices in the productionof a more full or comprehensive folding-machine; second, to adapt themin a foldingmachine to fold either single sheets or a plurality ofsheets; third, to provide means for controlling the web, so that a moreaccurate or even fold may be made; fourth, to provide means for pastingtogether collected sheets, and, fth, to improve generally theconstruction and operation and provide a better and more accuratelyWorking machine.

Other objects will hereinafter appear in connection with the descriptionof the invention.

My invention consists in various features 0f said end of the web acertain part of the j revolution of the cylinder before it is detachedin'to a sheet from the remainder of the web. I also provide the saidcylinder with a folding-blade constructed on the principle of thefolding-blade in my aforesaid patent and so mount and arrange andoperate this blade as that its working edge always protrudes beyond theperiphery of its cylinder or carrier. I also provide said cylinder withmeans between the sheet-seizing devices and the protruding foldingbladefor enabling the sheet to yield when the folding-blade strikes the webof paper and puts a tension thereupon before the sheet is detached fromthe web, so as to relieve the web or sheet from strain and possiblerupture, the sheet-seizing means not being adapted to yield to any suchstrain or tension, and I also preferably so construct the means forenabling the sheet to yield as that said means may be adjusted toregulate the amount of yield or slack in the paper according to thecharacter of the paper and the work being done. The gripper mechanismfor seizing the leading end of the sheet is combined with cam mechanismby which the grippers may be opened at every revolution of thecylinderor during alternate revolutions thereof, according as themachine is running to fold singlevor superposed sheets. The grippermechanism is also so organized as that the gripping-lingers may berendered wholly inoperative, if desired, while folding single sheets.

The folding-jaw cylinder is provided with folding-jaws substantiallylike those set forth in my aforesaid patent. There may be two sets ofthese folding-jaws at diametrically opposite sides of the cylinder orthere may be only one set of said jaws at one side and a pasting-bladeupon the opposite side, with the necessary mechanism in either case tooperate the device or devices which may for the time being be in use.When it may be desired to fold every successive sheet, then two sets offolding-jaws are employed,because the folding-jaw cylinder is twice thediameter of the folding-blade cylinder; but when it may be desired tocollect and paste sheets and z eesffie fold only once during eachrevolution of the folding-jaw cylinder, then one pair of thefolding-jaws is removed and the pastingblade is substituted therefor.rlhe latter has a reciprocatory radial action and coperates at theproper time with the normally protruding folding-blade to apply a lineof paste on the first sheet taken of the two to be collected. Thefolding-cylinder is also provided with tapes for leading off the foldedproduct to suitable delivery mechanism. There is also provided arotatory stripping device that operates to strip or deflect the looseend of a sheet of paper away from the folding-jaw cylinder and preventit from entering the tape* pathway ahead of the folded edge of thepaper.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of afolding-machine embodying my improvements, some of the parts beingbroken away and others omitted in order to show other portions of themachine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at the line z z of Fig. 1.Fig. 8 is a side elevation taken from the right-hand side of Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the right-hand half or portion ofthe machine and similar to the right-hand half or portion of Fig. 1, butwithout gearing and pasting mechanism. Fig. v5 is an enlarged top planview of the left-hand half or portion of the machine, and likewise issimilar to the left-hand half ofthe machine shown at Fig. 1, certainparts, however, being broken away and portions of the framework beingomitted to facilitate an understanding of the view. Figs. 4 and 5, heldside by side, represent together an enlarged top plan view of themachine minus the pasting mechanism and gearing and other minor partsshown fully in other views. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectiontaken at the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken at the linexof Fig. 4. Fig. Sis a longitudinal verticalsection taken at the line yw w of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a plan View of thefoldingb1ade and its support. Fig. 10 is an end view thereof. Fig. 11 isa short elevation of the same. Fig. 12 is a cross-section taken at theline n t' of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a top plan View of one of the sets ofjaws of the folding mechanism. Fig. 14 is a front elevation thereof.Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 16 is a crosssection takenon the line u 'Lt ot' Fig. 14. Fig. 17 is a cross-section taken at theline tof Fig. 14. Fig. 18 is a cross-section taken at the line s s ofFig. 14. Fig. 19 a side elevation of the pasting-blade. Fig. 20 is anedge view thereof. Fig. 21 is a .plan view of the stripper-fingers andtheir supports. Fig. 22 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 21,taken from the inner side. Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 are skeleton ordiagrammatic views showing some of the features of my improvements andillustrating a complete cycle of the operations of the mechanismsillustrated. Fig. 28 is a diagrammatic view showing the use of two setsof folding-jaws, and Fig. 29 is a sectional view showing modiications.

In the various views the same parts will be found designated by the samenumerals of reference.

1 represents a folding-cylinder mounted upon a shaft 2, suitablysupported in side frames 3 and rotated in any desired manner. Saidcylinder is 'formed or provided with a deep arc-shaped groove4,extending longitudinally of the cylinder and for its whole length, andat each end of the cylinder in line with said groove is attached byscrews 5 a bracket or bearing-plate 5, formed or provided withan'arc-shaped slot (5, which is formed about the axis X as a center. andwhich axis lies in or coincides with the peripheral line Y of thecylinder 1. At the front side of each bracket or bearing-plate 5 is ahole or bearing which receives a journal or trunnion 7, extendinglaterally and horizontally from an arm 8, which extends obliquelyupward. The parallelly-arranged arms 8 project into the groove 4 in thecylinder and support therein in eyes or bearings 9, formed at the upperends of said arms, a cross-sl'iaft 10, which at each end extends outthrough the slot Gand passes out or beyond the said plate 5. Between thetubular bearings 9 and joining them, so as to form one rigid structure,is a part 11, that constitutes one of the jaws of the fold-grippingmechanism. Theother folding-jaw 12 of the folding mechanism is securedupon the shaft 10. Both jaws 11 and 12 are adapted to swing togetherabout the axis X or about the trunnions 7 for every first quarter of therevolution of the cylinder 1, and the jaw 12 is adapted to swingindependently of the jaw 11 for the purpose of gripping the fold of thesheet and also for releasing the same at the proper times, as willhereinafter be more fully explained.

The folding-jaw 11 comprises a continuous bar extending across themachine and formed or provided between its ends with a liat or planeworking face 11. The independentlymovable jaw 12 also comprises a bar orshaft of suitable length; but in lieu of a continuous coacting jaw-face,as in my aforesaid patent, the said independently-movable jaw l2comprises a series of independent gripping sections or members 12, Theseconsist each of an eye portion 12b, that fits upon the shaft 10 and issecured by a set-screw 12E, that passes through a tapped holein themember, and a gripping finger portion 12d, that is adapted to coact withthe face 11C on the bar portion of the folding-jaw 11. At Fig. 13 I haveshown centrally a group of six -unitary gripping fingers or devices andon each side thereof a single similar gripping device, a space heiligleft between the ends of the central group of fingers and the isolatedsingle lingers for the accommodation of tapes on the folding-jawcylinder 1, the jaw 11 being cut away 01' depressed at 13 at said spacesfor the 'passage of said tapes. These independent folding jaws orfingers 12a all oscillate together with the shaft 10, but areindependently adjustable thereon both lengthwise and radially. They areadjustable lengthwise so that they may be set equidistantly or at properdistances apart on said shaft. The main purpose of the radial adjustmentis to insure that each gripping jaw or finger may properly grasp orpress the sheet against the face 11c of the folding-jaw 11. If thegripping-jaws 12 were all made of one piece, or continuous, as in myformer patent, while such continuous jaws might be so constructed andmounted as that originally they would bear all along the line againstthe face 11 of the companion folding-jaw, yet in time, when wear shouldoccur or for some other reason, one or more portions of such continuonsjaw might fail to contact with the face 11, and the sheet would not beproperly grasped by the pair of folding-jaws, the fold would beimproperly made, and the sheet would be likely to get entangled orcaught in the tapes or other carryingoff mechanism; but by making thejaws of a series of narrow independent pieces they may j be nicelyadjusted at the outset and may from time to time, as they fail to graspthe sheet properly, be readj usted, so that there I is always continuousand even pressure upon the paper and proper coaction with therface iWhile I prefer to 11c of the opposing jaw. use'the isolated end jawsarranged between the long eyes or bearings 9, these, however, may beomitted, and while I have shown a group of six independent jaw members12a it will be understood, of course, that a greater or a lesser numberthereof may be used instead.

One of the trunnions 7 of the U-shaped gripper frame orcasting 11 iselongated, as

at 7, and is provided with an arm 14, that carries anantifriction-roller 15, which engages with a stationary grooved cam 16,supported on the framework, and which controls the movement of thegripper mechanism as a whole, as in my former patent. The crankarm 14 isprovided with a lateral extension 17, that carries a lug 18, which isperforated for the passage of a rod 19, that is carried by a crank-arm20, secured to the shaft 10. Upon the rod 19 is a coiled spring 21,which bears at one end against the lug 18 and at its opposite endagainst the crank-arm 2O or a piece thereon. Normally the spring is incompression, and hence its action is to force the two.-

arms 14 and 20 apart, and therefore to close the jaws 11 and 12,constituting the folders.

The shaft is provided'with another crankarm 23, preferably madeintegral' with the arm 20, the two forming together a bell-crank, and onthe outer end of said arm 23 is mounted an antifriction-roller 24, thatengages with a stationary earn-face 25, which isV bolted to the innerside of the large stationary cam 16, the said cam 25 being adapted torock the shaft 1() for the purpose of swinging the jaw 12 away from therelatively-fixed jaw 11, so as to open the grippers when the fold of asheet is to be grasped thereby. On the opposite end of the shaft 10 is acrank-arm 26, having an antifriction-roller 27, that coperates with acam 28, bolted to the righthand side frame 3, for the purpose of openingthe folding-jaws at the proper time to release the folded sheet.

29 is a drum or cylinder mounted to turn with a shaft or axle 30, drivenin any suitable way and in unison with the folding-cylinder. In thiscylinder 29 is formed or provided a longitudinal groove or depression31, curved or arc-shaped in end view, and at each end of the cylinder isprovided a bearing-plate or bracket 32,secured by screws 33 and providedwith a hole to act as a bearing for a trunnion or pintle 34, extendinglaterally at each end from a longitudinally-arranged knife or bladesupport 35 and provided with a tucking or folding knife or blade 36,adapted to double or fold the sheet into the bite of the jaws 11 and l2.The pintles 34 are preferably arranged in the peripheral line of thefoldingblade cylinder 29, and the right-hand pintle is prolonged andprovided with a crank-arm 37, which bears a roller 38, that travels in agrooved cam 3.9,connect-ed with the right-hand framework of the machine.The tucking or folding blade 36 is secured between two halfround bars 40and 41, the latter of which is formedintegrally with an end piece 42 ofthe blade frame or support. The blade 36 is perforated at suitablepoints for the passage of screws 43 and dowelpins 44, which pass throughholes in the upper or separate clamping bar 40 and enter holes in thebar4l,some of which are tapped for the points of the screws. The bladeis thus securely clamped between the bars 40 and 41 of the frame orsupport, which,'it will be noted, is U-shaped orcrankshaped. The workingedge of the blade 36 projects always beyond the periphery of thecylinder 2H. The pintles 34 are supported in bosses 45 on the brackets42 at the ends of the cylinder. The cam 39 is supported at the inner endof a cylindrical flanged distancepiece 46, which is secured within ahub-boss 47,constituting a part of the framework 3 and preferablyprovided with a lining or brass'43. The shaft of the collecting-cylinder29 passes through the cylinder, through one hub 29a thereof,through thecam 39 at one end,througl1 the distance-piece 46 and hubboss 47, and isprovided at its outermost end with-a drivinggear,while the opposite endof said shaft after passing through the other cylinder-hub 29b isextended outwardly through the hub-boss IOO ITO

47a, likewise provided with a brass bushing as 48a. The shaft is keyedto the cylinders at the hub portions thereof, so that the cylinder andthe shaft. turn together.

The collecting or blade cylinder 29 is provided with agripper mechanismwhich is peculiarly constructed and operated, the operation dependingupon whether the cylinder is acting to collect or superpose sheets ornot. At Fig. 8 it will be observed that there are two shafts 49 and 50journaled in the collecting-cylinder, the former havinga rockerarm 51and the latter a rocker-arm 52. The arm 51 is provided with a toothedsector 53, which meshes with a toothed sector 54 on the arm 52, whichlatter is provided with an antifriction-roll 55, that coacts with a cam56, to be presently described. The shaft 49 is provided with a set ofgripper-fingers 57, which clamp the sheet upon the periphery of thecylinder 29. To the free end of the crankarm 51 is pivotally connectedat 58 a rod 59, whose opposite end takes a bearing in a lug 60,projecting laterally from one of the bearing-plates or brackets 32.Surrounding said rod is a coiled spring 61, which bears against said lugand also against a nut 62, the latter being adjustable upon a threadedportion 63 of said rod so as to vary the tension of said spring. Thesaid spring mechanism, as described, operates to hold the grippersnormally closed or pressing upon the surface of the cylinder.

The cam 56 is curved or C-shaped and supported upon the upper end of anarm 64, whose hub 65 is secured upon a rock-shaft 66, extending acrossthe machine and mounted in suitable bearings in the framework. To saidshaft 66 is secured a horizontal rockerarm 67, having at its outer endan antifriction-roller 68, which travels in a grooved cam 69, mounted ona revolving shaft 70, likewise extending across the machine and suitablymounted in the framework. This grooved cam is adapted, through therocker-arms 67 and 64, to move the C-shaped or curved cam toward andaway from the shaft of the co1- lecting-cylinder 29 or in and out of thepath of rotation of the roller 55 on the rocker-arm 52 upon thecollecting-cylinder, so that at the proper times the grippers 57 may beopened or may be permitted to remain closed.

The collecting-cylinder 29 is preferably provided with a peripheraldepression or flattened or sunken portion 71, extending from end to endof the cylinder and between the tucking or folding blade and thegripper-1ingers, for the purpose of enabling the sheet in the grasp ofthe grippers to yield or give whenever the paper is projected by thefolding-blade or when the latter is tucking the fold of the sheet intothe jaws of the foldingcylinder, so as to relieve the sheet of any unduestrain or tension, which might cause it to tear or be ruptured, and soas to cause the short length of paper which is tucked or taken up by thefolding-jaws to be drawn from this portion of the sheet, as will behereinafter more fully explained. The depressed or sunken portion 7l ispreferably provided with a segmental adjustable bed 72, held in positionby means of screw-bolts 73, having cylindrical necks, supported in holesin a plate 74, cast with the cylinder, and having also threaded ends toengage the holes in the bed 72. These bolts not only support the bed,but afford a means for adjusting the same radially of the cylinder sothat its curved face may be moved in or out to the required extentrelatively to the periphery of the cylinder to regulate the amount ofslack or yield in the sheets, as may be n ecessary. The bed is held inits adjusted position by means of a set-screw 75, passing inwardly fromthe bed and bearing against the outer face of the plate 74. The boltsare preferably headed on the inside of the cylinder after theircylindrical ends have been passed through the holes in the plate.

Referring again to the folding-'cylinder 1, it will be observed thatthere is an arc-shaped depression 4a formed diametrically opposite thesimilar depression 4, and in said depression 4 may be arranged eitheranother set of folding-jaws or a pasting mechanism, according to thecharacter of the work being done; but I have shown arranged in saiddepression a pasting mechanism which cornprises a shaft 76, havingbearings at its ends in plates or brackets 77, secured by screws 5b tothe ends of the cylinder, rocker-arms 78, rocker-arms 79 and 80, apasting-blade 81, and its support 82.

The pasting-blade support consists of a yoke or casting formed with aseat or depression, upon which is screwed a sheet-metal pastingblade 8l,which is cnt away at 83 to clear t-he tapes. The ends of theblade-support 82 are provided with round pins 84, which are embraced byforks 85, formed on the free ends of the rocker-arms 78, there being onerockerarm at each end-of the cylinder to engage the two pins 84 on thesupport 82. The latter is guided in a radial in-and-out movement by astraight groove or way 86, formed on the inner side of each of the endplates or brackets 77. On one end of the shaft 76, outside of thecylinder, is the rocker-arm 79, bearing an antifriction-roll 87, thatengages with a fixed cam 88 on the framework, and on the other end ofsaid shaft is the other rocker-arm 80, which is connected to a springstop mechanism that normally holds the blade within the depression inthe cylinder. The blade is projected beyond the surface of the cylinderby the cam 88 against the tension of the spring mechanism, whichconsists of a rod 89, pivoted at one end to the crank-arm 80, which isbifurcated to receive the same, and riding freely at its opposite end ina screw-bushing 90, supported in an earpiece 91, castintegrally with thebracket 77. Surrounding the rod 89 is a coiled spring 92, one end ofwhich bears against the head of the rod and the other against the innerflanged end of the threaded bushing 90, the outer end of the latterbeing provided with a knurled nger-piece or button 93, by which theexteriorly-threaded bushing may be screwed in and out of its bearing inthe ear 91 for the purpose of adjusting the tension of said spring, ajam-nut 94 being provided to hold the bushing in its adjusted po- IOOIIO

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